Mr Nash said in January the move would save lives and hospitalisations, but has now said his plan to get it legalised has failed.

Festival owners are currently reluctant to openly back the drug testing as it is still illegal, but some events have the testing on-site.

“It is something I'm passionate about - I just can't get it across the line,” Mr Nash said.

“It doesn't mean I stop. It just means that we probably are not going to get it in place legally for this coming festival season.”

Drug testers are particularly worried about high-dose MDMA pills this summer, which has already led to deaths overseas.

NZ First law and order spokesperson Darroch Ball said drug testing could legitimise and encourage drug use.

“We're acting at the wrong end here. We're being very reactionary if we think it's okay to start saving lives or to start protecting people after the drug has been taken or after it's been purchased,” he said.

But when asked by 1 NEWS if his party was opposed to drug testing at festivals, NZ First leader Winston Peters said he "wouldn't want to give you an answer now. I don't know if you're correct about that".

Jez Weston of the festival drug testing organisation KnowYourStuffNZ said, “We just want to get on with it, providing a service that is keeping people safe. We don't want anyone to die and frankly Darroch Ball is putting people at risk.”